Kate's POV:

"Lucian!"
"Luca!"
"Lucia!"
"And Lucy, get down here now!" I shouted, the sound of my voice echoing through the house.

You're probably wondering who they are. Well, meet my world. Lucian, my eldest, who turns six the day after tomorrow, and the triplets: Luca, Lucia, and Lucy, who are about to celebrate their fifth birthday tomorrow.

Yes, triplets. And no, I wasn't ready for it—emotionally, physically, or mentally. But here I am. I gave birth to them alone. Again. It's a story I've buried deep in my heart—a wound that still aches but doesn't bleed anymore. I pushed the memories of five and a half years ago back where they belong, behind a wall that keeps me sane.

"Mummy, it was Luca!" Lucy yelled, running into the kitchen with her twin brother hot on her heels.

"Lucy, don't you go snitching!" Luca barked, flour smudged all over his hands and face.

I glanced at my troublemaker, my eyes narrowing. "Luca," I said sternly, and he froze, grinning sheepishly.

"Busted!" Lucian and Lucia chimed as they walked in, holding hands like the little protectors they are.

Lucia, the smallest of the triplets, peeked out shyly from behind Lucian. She always stayed close to him, partly because she had to wear glasses from a minor complication before birth, but mostly because he's her self-appointed guardian.

"I see the flour," I said, folding my arms across my chest. "Luca, what were you doing in the kitchen?"

"Making a cake for your birthday, Mum," he said, grinning wide enough to charm anyone. But I wasn't buying it. Not after I had to clean up the last "cake" incident that turned my kitchen into a disaster zone.

"You're lucky I love you," I muttered, ruffling his hair.

"Where are we going tomorrow?" I asked, leaning against the counter as they all piled into the kitchen.

"The amusement park!" they yelled together, making me cover my ears.

"Inside voices!" I reminded them, and four sets of "Sorry, Mum" chorused back at me. They came over and wrapped their little arms around me, giggling. These moments made the sleepless nights and endless exhaustion worth it.

After sending them to the table, I started making pancakes. "Pancakes, Mummy?" Lucia asked, her soft voice bringing a smile to my face.

"Yes, baby, pancakes. And no, Luca, no chocolate chips today. You're already hyper enough," I said without turning around. I heard him groan but didn't argue further.

"Can we have ice cream later?" Lucy piped up.

"No, baby," I said with a small laugh. "Tomorrow at the park, okay?"

"Okay, Mummy," she said sweetly, then added softly, "Sorry for yelling."

Finishing the pancakes, I placed them on the table and watched as they dug in, their laughter filling the room. Luca, of course, was trying to stack his pancakes as high as possible, earning an eye roll from Lucian, who was already finishing his food.

When breakfast was over, I shooed them upstairs to grab their school bags. "Lucian," I called after them. "What's the rule about going outside?"

"No one goes outside without you," he called back dutifully.

I smiled to myself as I cleaned up the kitchen, grateful for my little man's sense of responsibility. They might be a handful, but they're my handful.

At the front door, I waited for them, their bags slung over my shoulder. They came bounding down the stairs like a pack of puppies. Lucian was leading Lucia by the hand, as always, while Luca and Lucy raced to be first.

"Alright, let's go," I said, opening the door.

Outside, the air was crisp, and the morning sun warmed my face. The kids' chatter filled the space as we walked to the car, and I tried to focus on the present instead of the memories threatening to resurface.

"You okay, Mum?" Lucy asked, her small hand tugging at mine.

I blinked, startled. "I'm fine, baby," I said quickly, forcing a smile. She didn't look convinced, but she let it go.

"Shotgun!" Luca yelled, running to the front seat.

"No way!" Lucian protested, chasing after him.

"Lucian, you're in charge, remember?" I said, and he immediately stopped arguing, nodding like a little soldier.

Luca stuck his tongue out, but I let it slide. There are bigger battles to fight, and this wasn't one of them.

I adjusted my seatbelt and let out a deep breath, trying to shake the pang of loneliness that always followed dropping them off. The car felt too quiet now, the lively chatter and giggles replaced by an eerie stillness.

I glanced at the empty back seats through the rearview mirror, smiling faintly at the memory of them singing. They had their father's charisma, that's for sure.

"Alright, Kate," I whispered to myself. "Time to get on with the day."

On the drive back home, I let my thoughts wander, as they often did. The kids were growing up so fast. Lucian was practically a mini-adult already, and the triplets—well, they were their own kind of chaos. Each one had such a unique personality, yet they worked together as a little team.

I smiled at the thought of Lucy scolding Luca for his antics, or Lucian gently guiding Lucia when she needed help. They'd inherited the best parts of their father.

As I pulled into the driveway, the weight of the quiet house hit me again. It was always the hardest part of the day—the emptiness that seemed to echo louder when they weren't home. I climbed out of the car and made my way inside, kicking off my shoes and heading straight for the kitchen.

Coffee first. Always coffee.

While the machine whirred, I glanced at the fridge, which was covered in drawings and school schedules. Among the colorful chaos was a small photo of Lucio and me, taken long before the kids. His green-grey eyes sparkled in the picture, and I found myself reaching out to trace his face with my finger.

"Damn you, Lucio," I murmured. "You missed the best part."

The coffee machine beeped, pulling me from my thoughts. I grabbed my mug and leaned against the counter, staring out the window as I sipped. The backyard was alive with memories—Lucian learning to ride his bike, Luca getting stuck in the treehouse, Lucy pretending to be a teacher, and Lucia quietly drawing on the patio steps.

After finishing my coffee, I decided to tackle some work. Balancing everything—being a mom, running a household, and keeping up with freelance projects—wasn't easy, but I managed. The kids kept me grounded, reminding me every day why I pushed so hard.

Midway through answering emails, my phone buzzed. A message from the school.

"Mrs. King, we'd like to schedule a parent-teacher conference for next week to discuss Lucy and Luca's progress. Please let us know your availability."

I sighed. Of course, it was about those two. They were both smart but had a knack for getting into mischief. I replied quickly, confirming a time, and made a mental note to prepare myself for whatever story their teacher would have this time.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of errands, chores, and the occasional glance at the clock. When it was finally time to pick them up, I couldn't get there fast enough.

As I pulled into the school parking lot, I spotted Lucian standing protectively by Lucia, while Luca and Lucy were chasing each other in circles. The sight made my heart swell.

They spotted me before I could get out of the car, running toward me like a little army.

"Mummy!" they shouted, their voices blending into one joyful sound.

I crouched down to greet them, wrapping them all in a hug. "How was school, my loves?"

"Luca threw a paper airplane at the teacher," Lucian said, crossing his arms.

"Luca!" I said, giving him a look.

"But it was funny, Mum!" Lucy chimed in, giggling.

I shook my head, unable to hide my smile. "Alright, troublemakers, into the car. We'll talk about it at home."

The drive back was filled with their stories and laughter, the kind of noise that made the quiet moments worth it. For now, everything was as it should be.

I wiped my tears quickly, scolding myself for letting the past consume me again. My babies were the reason I pushed forward, the reason I worked so hard to build this life. I couldn't allow myself to wallow in sadness over someone who had chosen to break me twice.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up the picture frame of my kids and smiled through the remaining tears. They were my everything. Their little smiles, their laughter, their silly antics—they made every struggle worth it. I gently placed the frame back on my desk and looked at the one beside it, the one of Lucio and me. A pang hit my chest, but I shook it off.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. "Come in," I called, trying to sound normal.

Kevin stepped in, his concerned eyes scanning my face. "You need to take it easy, Kate. You're doing too much."

"I'm fine, Kevin," I replied, waving him off.

"You're not fine," he insisted, sitting in the chair across from me. "You've been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders for years now. When was the last time you did something for yourself?"

I hesitated. The truth was, I couldn't remember. My entire life revolved around my kids and the restaurant.

"You know," he continued, "you've built something incredible here. You don't always have to be in control. That's why I'm here, remember?"

I gave him a small smile. Kevin was right, but it was hard to let go. "Thanks, Kevin. I just... I don't know how to slow down."

"Start small," he suggested. "Go home early tonight. Spend some time with your kids. The restaurant will still be here tomorrow."

I nodded, appreciating his words. "Alright. But only because you're here to keep things running."

Kevin laughed. "I always am."

On the drive home, my thoughts drifted to the kids. They were probably asleep by now, and I hated missing bedtime, but work was necessary. Balancing everything alone wasn't easy.

When I got home, the babysitter greeted me with a smile. "They were angels tonight," she said.

"Thank you," I replied, handing her payment and walking her to the door.

I tiptoed into their room, peeking in to see them all sprawled across their beds. My heart swelled at the sight of them. They were my entire world.

Later that night, as I sat in bed scrolling through emails, my phone buzzed with a message from Kevin.

Kevin: Did you make it home okay?
Me: Yeah. Thanks for checking.
Kevin: Good. Rest, Kate. You deserve it.

I set my phone down and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Kevin was a good partner, both in business and in helping me stay sane. Still, no one could fill the void Lucio had left.

Shaking my head, I turned off the light. The past didn't matter anymore. My future was with my kids. And that was enough.